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NCAA drops hammer on SMU basketball for academic fraud, unethical conduct

By Doug G. Ware

DALLAS, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The National Collegiate Athletics Association on Tuesday slammed the basketball program at Southern Methodist University for violations that included academic fraud and unethical conduct, investigators said.

The NCAA, which had spent months investigating the allegations, issued its punitive report Tuesday, banning SMU from participating in any postseason tournament in 2016. It also led to the suspension of head coach Larry Brown for nine games and strips nine scholarships from the program over the next three years.

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While Tuesday's punishment isn't nearly as bad as the so-called "death penalty" that killed off the school's football operations for a year in 1987, it is rather significant for a collegiate program that now has 10 major infractions cases -- the most of any team in the nation.

SMU may appeal the decision, officials said.

"While we accept responsibility for violations, the individuals responsible for the infractions have been held accountable both by the university and by the committee on infractions," the school said in a statement Tuesday. "To punish the student-athletes in the men's basketball [program] by prohibiting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in the postseason is simply wrong. It is not what our system of governance should be about and we are considering our response."

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Brown accepted responsibility for the punishment Tuesday -- marking the third time in his collegiate coaching career his program has been sanctioned by the NCAA. Brown, also a former NBA coach, took over the SMU Mustangs program in 2012.

SMU was also given three years of probation.

"Leading the SMU men's basketball program is an honor and a responsibility that I take very seriously," Brown said. "I am saddened and disappointed that the committee on infractions believes that I did not fully fulfill my duties and I will consider my options to challenge that assertion in the coming days.

"I truly believe that our program has dedicated itself unwaveringly to the ideals of academic integrity and NCAA compliance. Still, there was a violation in our program and I take responsibility for that and offer my sincere apologies to the university community."

The NCAA report said the school committed academic fraud in taking steps to ensure athletes on the basketball team received sufficient grades to remain eligible to play. In one case, an administrative assistant helped a player by completing coursework for him, the NCAA said.

That assistant, who resigned in September 2014, is also accused of lying to NCAA investigators.

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SMU is no stranger to sanctions, however.

During the 1980s, the school's football team was repeatedly investigated by the NCAA due to reports the program was paying players. It was ultimately given the "death penalty" -- which is the harshest punishment available to the NCAA -- and shut down its program for two years in 1987 and 1988.

Brown has compiled a 69-24 record since taking over the SMU program, and took the team to the NCAA Tournament this year for the first time since 1993.

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